Candidates to run the BBC have until midnight on New Year’s Eve to apply for the powerful role of director-general. There are concerns, however, that the “hospital pass” job has failed to attract creative leaders who can justify retaining the licence fee amid fierce competition from streaming services, reports BritPanorama.
Headhunters Egon Zehnder will soon begin sifting through applications to replace Tim Davie, who resigned after controversy surrounding the editing of a President Trump speech.
Insiders in the television industry have warned that the list of potential candidates is too narrow and that the £547,000-a-year post may not attract executives with the necessary global leadership experience to navigate the BBC’s precarious future as a publicly funded broadcaster.
31 December is the deadline for “confident” candidates to submit a CV and a letter of no more than two pages explaining why they are nominating themselves for what has been described as a “significant opportunity.”
Names currently under consideration include Jay Hunt, the Apple TV executive behind Slow Horses; Alex Mahon, the former Channel 4 chief executive; Charlotte Moore, former BBC Content boss; and Jane Turton, CEO of the production company All3Media.
Anne Mensah, Netflix’s UK VP of Content and a former BBC and Sky drama boss, has emerged as a strong contender. Her work on Adolescence has gained her recognition. “Adolescence on your CV is a great calling card,” remarked one industry figure. “She is the UK’s most powerful black TV executive and would be the first female director-general, which would help the BBC appear more relevant.”
Last May, Mensah expressed her lingering desire to return to the BBC, saying it was “brilliant,” although she noted she had “more to do” at Netflix.
The incoming director-general will face immediate challenges, including complex negotiations with the government over proposed changes to the funding model. Ministers have suggested supplementing the current £174.50 licence fee with advertising and subscriptions.
The BBC is reportedly losing over £1 billion annually from households either evading the licence fee or opting not to pay it. Approximately 800,000 households have cancelled their licence in the past two years, increasing the urgency for the new director-general to boost the £2.2 billion that its commercial arm, BBC Studios, raised last year to offset losses.
This situation necessitates a shift towards producing more popular programming, as evidenced by BBC One pairing two major series — The Traitors and The Night Manager — on New Year’s Day. However, the corporation gains little commercial advantage from these series, which were created and sold by external producers.
The job listing highlights the need for the new director-general to possess “resilience,” given the intense public scrutiny associated with the position, which may deter candidates currently in better-paid but lower-profile roles.
The new DG could be walking into a hospital pass
The BBC board has even floated the idea of dividing the role, potentially appointing a deputy with journalistic expertise to handle any controversies stemming from news coverage, while allowing the director-general to focus on content creation and competition with streaming platforms.
Considering this context, Kevin Bakhurst, director-general of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, and a former BBC News executive, could be a candidate for the deputy position.
The BBC is also grappling with a substantial $10 billion lawsuit threat from President Trump over the editing of a Panorama episode. This situation calls for a leader with international credibility and a robust background in digital transformation.
Media analyst Alex DeGroote noted, “The new DG could be walking into a hospital pass, if the Trump lawsuit goes the wrong way.” He further emphasized the need for the BBC to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape, arguing that hiring former BBC executives would not address the organization’s current challenges.
Another potential candidate for the role might be Emma Tucker, a British editor of the Wall Street Journal. She has defended her publication’s coverage amidst its own legal battles, which adds to her credentials.
The BBC Chair, Samir Shah, along with the Board, will oversee the selection of the new director-general and has outlined plans to appoint an interim leader if Davie departs before the recruitment process concludes, which is expected to wrap up in the spring. Rhodri Talfan Davies, director of nations at the BBC, is seen as a leading candidate for the interim position. Time is of the essence as the search progresses.
